Trigonometric value

Cos(15°) = (√6 + √2)/4

Cosine — the x-coordinate of the corresponding unit-circle point, or adjacent/hypotenuse in a right triangle.

How to derive cos(15°)

cos(15°)=6+24cos(15°) = \dfrac{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{2}}{4}

Difference formula: cos(45° − 30°) = cos45°cos30° + sin45°sin30° = (√2/2)(√3/2) + (√2/2)(1/2) = (√6 + √2)/4.

Unit-circle context

The angle 15° corresponds to π/12 radians and sits Quadrant I on the unit circle.

Other trig values at 15°

Related cos values

Frequently asked

What is the exact value of cos(15°)?
The exact value is (√6 + √2)/4. Its decimal approximation is 0.96593.
How do you derive cos(15°)?
Difference formula: cos(45° − 30°) = cos45°cos30° + sin45°sin30° = (√2/2)(√3/2) + (√2/2)(1/2) = (√6 + √2)/4.
What is 15° in radians?
15° equals π/12 radians (multiply degrees by π/180).

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